Love liberty, not big government

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for January 21, 2026)

I'm saddened to discover how few people value liberty more than they hate other people and love big government. It wasn't a surprise, but I still hate to see it.

One faction hates gun owners and wants armed government employees to take their guns and kill them if they resist.

Another faction hates people who dwell somewhere without government permission and wants armed government employees to kidnap, cage, and evict them. They are happy to see government agents kill these people and their supporters if either of them resist.

They don't realize how similar they are; both want to hand illegitimate power over you and me to government. Power which will never be relinquished and will be turned against them as soon as the political winds change and a different regime, with different ideas on governing, is in power. They've seen it happen. They are living through it. Still, they pretend it won't happen next time.

Or maybe they believe their opposition will never be in power again, in which case, they live in a fantasy.

Some of these angry people want majority opinion to rule us all. They like to pretend rights are based on popular opinion.

Others lean on constitutionality when it helps their side and ignore it when it would be inconvenient for their intentions. They make excuses, pretend the Constitution allows the legislation they want, and that rights depend on what the Constitution says.

Both sides ignore basic human rights they don't like. Both sides want legislation to be written or enforced to impose their wishes on everyone else.

Even the side which invokes the Constitution doesn't care what it has to say if it goes against what they want. They'll abuse and misinterpret the Constitution to make their case. To me, it looks like lying.

They act as though the Constitution is Mary Poppins' magic satchel; they can reach in and pull out whatever they want whenever they want it.

As anti-slavery activist and freelance post office entrepreneur Lysander Spooner pointed out in 1870, either the Constitution created this mess, or it was powerless to prevent it; either way, it is unfit to exist.

Pointing out hypocrisy may be the only utility the Constitution still has, having been thoroughly ignored almost from the beginning whenever it clearly limited any power the federal government, or a faction of its supporters, wanted it to exercise anyway. Some things never change.

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Trezor and Ledger phishing scam

If you have cryptocurrency and use a Trezor or Ledger wallet, be aware of a Trezor and Ledger phishing scam. 

I got a physical letter in the mail, warning about an upcoming "Authentication Check" that I'd need to scan a QR code to install by February 25, 2026. The letter looks entirely authentic- letterhead on the letter and envelope, and everything. It even has Trezor security tape affixed by the QR code.

It looked very official, but my suspicious nature caused me to do some internet sleuthing, and everything I found says this is a scam that is going around, targeting Trezor and Ledger users. I shredded the letter- although I realize I should have probably taken a picture first to share with you. Oops. I'll post one I found online.

Anyway, be careful. Dishonest creeps are always out to rob you, whether it's internal revenue or freelance scammers. Someone wants what you have, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to get it!

PS: Obviously, don't scan the QR code!

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The Difference is clear

There’s a fundamental difference between people who believe in government and those who don’t.

The other evening, my dad ended up on the floor in my parents' kitchen. My mom tried to help him up for about an hour, then she called me, and I rushed over to help. Others showed up, as well.

I was the only male there, and none of the females present were strong enough to be of much help in lifting a terribly obese, 85-year-old man (who was basically dead-weight) into a chair.

After about 30 minutes and many innovative attempts, someone went for help*. She went to the police chief's house and brought him over. Together, we got my dad lifted into a chair in no time.

Sometimes cops can be useful, but there were plenty of people closer who could have been asked for help, including a guy next door who would have been happy to lend a hand. It would never occur to me to go to the police- not even an individual cop- to ask for help. Not unless there were no other options. I don't want them involved in anything. It's rarely worth the risk.

That's the difference between people who believe in government and those who don't.

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*Calling the EMTs here is a hit-or-miss thing. If no one in this town responds within a few minutes (which is common), then the EMTs from the town across the railroad tracks, in the next state, will respond. But their response time depends on the trains at the crossing and whether one is stopped, blocking the road. We have hundreds of trains per day through here, so you've got at least a 50% chance of being delayed by a few minutes (or longer) anytime you try to cross the tracks. Trains don't move for emergency vehicles, either.

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